IV Therapy/Venous Devices

Question 1

What purposes does IV therapy serve?

Answer 1

• Used to sustain pts who are unable to take substances orally
• Replaces water, electrolytes, and nutrients more rapidly than oral administration
• Provides immediate vascular access for rapid delivery of specific meds
• Provides a vascular route for the administration of medication or blood components

Question 2

The IV gauge refers to the _____ of the lumen of the needle.

Answer 2

diameter

Question 3

The smaller the gauge number, the (smaller or larger?) the diameter of the lumen. The larger the gauge number, the (smaller or larger?) diameter of the lumen.

Answer 3

larger; smaller

Question 4

Which gauge numbers allow higher fluid rate and administration of higher concentrations of solutions? Smaller or larger gauge?

Answer 4

Smaller gauge numbers because the lumen is of a greater diameter.

Question 5

For rapid emergency fluid administration, blood products, or anesthetics, in preoperative and postoperative pts, what gauge size(s) would be appropriate?

Answer 5

16- or 18- gauge lumen

Question 6

For peripheral fat emulsion (lipids) infusions, what gauge sizes) would be appropriate?

Answer 6

20- or 22- gauge lumen or cannula

Question 7

For standard IV fluid and clear liquid IV medication administration, a 22- or 24-gauge lumen or cannula is used. TRUE or FALSE.

Answer 7

TRUE

Question 8

If the pt has very small veins, a 16- to 18- gauge lumen would be sufficient. TRUE or FALSE.

Answer 8

FALSE. The smaller the gauge number, the larger the diameter of the lumen. In this case, a 24- to 26-gauge lumen would be used.

Question 9

Shorter, secondary tubing is used for _____ solutions.

Answer 9

piggyback

Question 10

IV tubing consists of several components including what?

Answer 10

• Spike end for the the bag or bottle
• Drip Chamber
• Roller Clamp
• Y Site
• Adapter end for attachment to the cannula that is inserted into the pt’s vein

Question 10

Name some complications of IV therapy

Answer 10

• Air embolism
• Catheter embolism
• Circulatory overload
• Electrolyte overload and imbalance
• Hematoma
• Infection
• Infiltration
• Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis
• Tissue Damage

Question 11

Name some complications of a blood transfusion

Answer 11

• Transfusion reaction
• Circulatory overload
• Septicemia
• Iron overload
• Disease transmission
• Hypocalcemia
• Hyperkalemia
• Citrate toxicity

Question 12

How long should you stay with the pt during blood transfusion and how often should the pt’s vital signs be taken?

Answer 12

Stay with the pt for the first 15 mins (most critical) and vital signs should be monitored every 30 minutes to 1 hour according to facility protocol

Question 13

If you suspect the pt is experiencing a blood transfusion reaction while still receiving blood, what do you do?

Answer 13

• Stop the transfusion immediately (FIRST)
• Changes the IV tubing down to the IV tubing down to teh IV site and keep the IV line open with normal saline
• Check vital signs
• Notify HCP and blood bank/lab
• Stay with the pt, observing s/s and monitoring vital signs